Troy University Athletics
Kevin Weidlich Named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America? Team
5/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - Troy University senior baseball standout Kevin Weidlich became the first Trojan student-athlete since the move to Division I to earn first team academic All-America honors when he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Team.
A native of Plano, Texas, Weidlich is the third student-athlete in Troy University history to earn first team Academic All-America honors. He joins Joey Singleton (1990-91) and David Banks (1984-85) to be honored on the Academic All-America team. Both Singleton and Banks played baseball for the Trojans as well.
"Kevin Weidlich has posted some impressive statistics for our Trojans baseball program, but I am most impressed with his 4.0 grade point average. I am pleased that Kevin is being recognized for excellence both in the classroom and on the field," Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins said.
Weidlich was recently named the 2007 Clements Award Winner, which goes to the Troy University graduating male student-athlete with the highest GPA. He completed his degree in social science with a perfect 4.0 grade point average after also completing his elementary and high school education with a 4.0 GPA.
In addition to his academic excellence, Weidlich is the Trojans' second leading hitter this season, boasting a .362 batting average. He shares the team lead with 83 hits on the year and is second on the club in home runs (11) and runs batted in (55).
"I and extremely happy and excited for this recognition because I know how hard Kevin has worked, both on and off the field," Trojans head baseball coach Bobby Pierce said. "It is always good to see student-athletes get rewarded for their accomplishments and Kevin is very deserving of this award."
The Academic All-America. program annually honors more than 1,600 student-athletes who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA (the College Sports Information Directors of America), a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America. honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
Weidlich and the rest of the 2007 Trojans will open play in the NCAA Oxford Regional Tournament on Friday at 3 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field on the campus of the University of Mississippi. The third-seeded Trojans will face second-seeded Southern Miss in the first game of the tournament.
